No Way Out Of Cutbacks

OPINION

Everyone Is On A Tighter Budget, So Why Shouldn't The Sheriff Do His Part?

September 1, 1991

It made economic and political sense for the Volusia County Council to choose to hold the line on taxes for next year.

Taxpayers are in no mood for higher taxes. They are tightening their belts; so should county government.

Because of slow real estate and construction markets, Volusia's tax base this year grew less than 5 percent. That means the county needs to cut about $2.2 million in services to balance the budget.

County Manager Tom Kelly has proposed deep cuts in park development, vehicle replacement and reduced support of cultural arts to save about $1.2 million.

For the remaining $1 million, Mr. Kelly wants to spend some of the $6.5 million in suspected drug money confiscated by deputies from motorists. Mr. Kelly would use that money to pay for law enforcement services now financed by tax dollars.

That makes sense, but Sheriff Bob Vogel opposes the idea. He says legal restrictions prevent the money from being spent to help balance the county's budget. The county has asked for an opinion from Florida Attorney General Robert Butterworth.

Sounds like the sheriff is being too protective of his turf. After all, he has spent more than $2 million of the confiscated money to buy an airplane, guns, even hats for deputies. Next on his list is a bomb-sniffing dog.

To his credit, Mr. Vogel has agreed that $280,000 of the $1 million can pay for school and drug prevention programs. Still, that leaves a $720,000 gap in the budget.

Council Chairman Big John is correct in saying that all departments, including the sheriff's, need to help balance the budget. Mr. Vogel's budget has not been cut since he took office in 1989; it has steadily increased while other departments have taken cuts.

If the $720,000 in confiscated money cannot be spent to help balance the budget, then Mr. Vogel should begin looking for the least painful places to trim his own budget.